August 28, 2017 – Well, it’s been a long haul since I first started this blog and didn’t let anyone know about it. Meanwhile, we completed two major publication projects:

– We edited Janis Gillham Grady’s book, Commodore’s Messenger: A Child Adrift in the Sea Organization – Book One. She released it in late July 2017!

– I wrote an 800-page version of Escaping Scientology: An Insider’s True Story without paying attention to word count or page count. My associate called and asked if I really wanted to publish a book as long as War and Peace, since the manuscript I sent him for interior layout came to 238,000 words and 800 pages. It took me almost as long to abridge the book as it did to write it. I came up with the idea to post stories from my original book content on my book website, which enabled me to produce a book that was more manageable for readers at 400 pages, with more information available at http://www.escapingscientology.com.

– Jeff Hawkins at Skyhawk Studios designed a stunning cover for the hardback, print and e-book formats.

– It’s going through the finishing process now and should be out within two weeks!

– Also went to Los Angeles twice this summer, once in June to join Janis Gillham Grady at her awesome Reconnect event for ex-Sea Org and ex-Scientologists. Again in late July for an opportunity to contribute to A&E’s Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. I’ll be writing about this experience in an upcoming blog post. Looks like the episode I am in will be aired Sept. 19, 2017. Can’t wait to see the final cut.

Artists Peter and Karen Schless were seduced by Scientology's celebrity spirituality, and detoured from Hollywood careers to join its extremist group, the Sea Org. In leader David Miscavige's inner sanctum, they built their mental prison as they melded into its radicalized lifestyle where danger, captivity and abuse were normalized. After three escapes, Karen chose between two unbearable options.

Escaping Scientology Part I sweeps you into the lives of two young adults filled with hope and love as designer Karen and her award-winning musician-composer husband Peter overcome obstacles to succeed in the music and fashion industries together. Scientology re-focuses their goals toward the importance of clearing the planet and recruiting celebrities to build Scientology's social capital. Karen portrays the basic beliefs of Scientology that led to her radicalization into the Sea Org at the Celebrity Centre, a fortress where artists aspire to achieve greatness while attaining spiritual freedom through L. Ron Hubbard’s teachings. Karen shows how celebrities are lured into Scientology and develop a co-dependent relationship from which few break out.

Part II reveals Karen as a flawed and complex woman when she and Peter move to the secretive International Management headquarters, where they join 800 fanatical Sea Org members that made billion-year commitments to make this a Scientology world without war, criminality, or insanity. Karen finds the dystopian outpost and its global operations to be proof that Time magazine’s 1991 article, “The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power” captures the essence of Scientology’s mindset, that she describes as “war is everything and everything is war.” She is no passive victim as she attempts to stay in the driver’s seat and keep their marriage intact while fighting the pressures of the Int base culture that attempt to break them apart. Scientology goes under “Cruise Control” as Miscavige becomes obsessed with his biggest trophy, Tom Cruise, and stiffens his control and abusive punishment methods on the Int base staff. Karen rebels against regulations and spends time in Scientology’s prison camp. After two attempts to escape the Int base, she is trailed by security guards and coerced into returning. Failing to escape, she questions the evidence of her own senses, and makes a mind-twisting re-commitment to become the best version of a Sea Org member she can be. Karen carves out a world she can live within as she is promoted into the highest echelons of management, appointed by the Chairman of the Board RTC to Int Management Public Relations Officer and later to take charge of the image of Sea Org staff internationally from the Int Finance Office. While working on special projects under David and Shelley Miscavige, she travels to Scientology bases around the world where she sees human rights violations set in place by Hubbard’s policies that cause her to conclude Scientology is a for-profit business that builds billions of dollars of assets on the backs of Sea Org slave labor, while hiding behind the banner of the First Amendment, claiming benefits and protection as a non-profit religion.

The epilogue of Part III portrays the mind-wrenching process of physical escape, and psychological anguish as Karen plies herself out of Scientology’s grip and endures its cruel disconnection policy. She re-acclimates herself to life on the outside while, brick by brick, she disassembles the walls of the mental prison she had built, and survives with the help of her accomplice and the love and support of her family.

Karen's narrative memoir shows that Scientology's plan, authored by L. Ron Hubbard and David Miscavige, is filled with flaws: While the leaders impose their will on members who follow blindly and spend exorbitant amounts of money or dedicate their lives to achieve spiritual freedom, they grossly underestimate the power of individual free will in those brave enough to escape and speak out.

Artists Peter and Karen Schless were seduced by Scientology's celebrity spirituality, and detoured from Hollywood careers to join its extremist group, the Sea Org. In leader David Miscavige's inner sanctum, they built their mental prison as they melded into its radicalized lifestyle where danger, captivity and abuse were normalized. After three escapes, Karen chose between two unbearable options.

Escaping Scientology Part I sweeps you into the lives of two young adults filled with hope and love as designer Karen and her award-winning musician-composer husband Peter overcome obstacles to succeed in the music and fashion industries together. Scientology re-focuses their goals toward the importance of clearing the planet and recruiting celebrities to build Scientology's social capital. Karen portrays the basic beliefs of Scientology that led to her radicalization into the Sea Org at the Celebrity Centre, a fortress where artists aspire to achieve greatness while attaining spiritual freedom through L. Ron Hubbard’s teachings. Karen shows how celebrities are lured into Scientology and develop a co-dependent relationship from which few break out.

Part II reveals Karen as a flawed and complex woman when she and Peter move to the secretive International Management headquarters, where they join 800 fanatical Sea Org members that made billion-year commitments to make this a Scientology world without war, criminality, or insanity. Karen finds the dystopian outpost and its global operations to be proof that Time magazine’s 1991 article, “The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power” captures the essence of Scientology’s mindset, that she describes as “war is everything and everything is war.” She is no passive victim as she attempts to stay in the driver’s seat and keep their marriage intact while fighting the pressures of the Int base culture that attempt to break them apart. Scientology goes under “Cruise Control” as Miscavige becomes obsessed with his biggest trophy, Tom Cruise, and stiffens his control and abusive punishment methods on the Int base staff. Karen rebels against regulations and spends time in Scientology’s prison camp. After two attempts to escape the Int base, she is trailed by security guards and coerced into returning. Failing to escape, she questions the evidence of her own senses, and makes a mind-twisting re-commitment to become the best version of a Sea Org member she can be. Karen carves out a world she can live within as she is promoted into the highest echelons of management, appointed by the Chairman of the Board RTC to Int Management Public Relations Officer and later to take charge of the image of Sea Org staff internationally from the Int Finance Office. While working on special projects under David and Shelley Miscavige, she travels to Scientology bases around the world where she sees human rights violations set in place by Hubbard’s policies that cause her to conclude Scientology is a for-profit business that builds billions of dollars of assets on the backs of Sea Org slave labor, while hiding behind the banner of the First Amendment, claiming benefits and protection as a non-profit religion.

The epilogue of Part III portrays the mind-wrenching process of physical escape, and psychological anguish as Karen plies herself out of Scientology’s grip and endures its cruel disconnection policy. She re-acclimates herself to life on the outside while, brick by brick, she disassembles the walls of the mental prison she had built, and survives with the help of her accomplice and the love and support of her family.

Karen's narrative memoir shows that Scientology's plan, authored by L. Ron Hubbard and David Miscavige, is filled with flaws: While the leaders impose their will on members who follow blindly and spend exorbitant amounts of money or dedicate their lives to achieve spiritual freedom, they grossly underestimate the power of individual free will in those brave enough to escape and speak out.

Artists Peter and Karen Schless were seduced by Scientology's celebrity spirituality, and detoured from Hollywood careers to join its extremist group, the Sea Org. In leader David Miscavige's inner sanctum, they built their mental prison as they melded into its radicalized lifestyle where danger, captivity and abuse were normalized. After three escapes, Karen chose between two unbearable options.

Escaping Scientology Part I sweeps you into the lives of two young adults filled with hope and love as designer Karen and her award-winning musician-composer husband Peter overcome obstacles to succeed in the music and fashion industries together. Scientology re-focuses their goals toward the importance of clearing the planet and recruiting celebrities to build Scientology's social capital. Karen portrays the basic beliefs of Scientology that led to her radicalization into the Sea Org at the Celebrity Centre, a fortress where artists aspire to achieve greatness while attaining spiritual freedom through L. Ron Hubbard’s teachings. Karen shows how celebrities are lured into Scientology and develop a co-dependent relationship from which few break out.

Part II reveals Karen as a flawed and complex woman when she and Peter move to the secretive International Management headquarters, where they join 800 fanatical Sea Org members that made billion-year commitments to make this a Scientology world without war, criminality, or insanity. Karen finds the dystopian outpost and its global operations to be proof that Time magazine’s 1991 article, “The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power” captures the essence of Scientology’s mindset, that she describes as “war is everything and everything is war.” She is no passive victim as she attempts to stay in the driver’s seat and keep their marriage intact while fighting the pressures of the Int base culture that attempt to break them apart. Scientology goes under “Cruise Control” as Miscavige becomes obsessed with his biggest trophy, Tom Cruise, and stiffens his control and abusive punishment methods on the Int base staff. Karen rebels against regulations and spends time in Scientology’s prison camp. After two attempts to escape the Int base, she is trailed by security guards and coerced into returning. Failing to escape, she questions the evidence of her own senses, and makes a mind-twisting re-commitment to become the best version of a Sea Org member she can be. Karen carves out a world she can live within as she is promoted into the highest echelons of management, appointed by the Chairman of the Board RTC to Int Management Public Relations Officer and later to take charge of the image of Sea Org staff internationally from the Int Finance Office. While working on special projects under David and Shelley Miscavige, she travels to Scientology bases around the world where she sees human rights violations set in place by Hubbard’s policies that cause her to conclude Scientology is a for-profit business that builds billions of dollars of assets on the backs of Sea Org slave labor, while hiding behind the banner of the First Amendment, claiming benefits and protection as a non-profit religion.

The epilogue of Part III portrays the mind-wrenching process of physical escape, and psychological anguish as Karen plies herself out of Scientology’s grip and endures its cruel disconnection policy. She re-acclimates herself to life on the outside while, brick by brick, she disassembles the walls of the mental prison she had built, and survives with the help of her accomplice and the love and support of her family.

Karen's narrative memoir shows that Scientology's plan, authored by L. Ron Hubbard and David Miscavige, is filled with flaws: While the leaders impose their will on members who follow blindly and spend exorbitant amounts of money or dedicate their lives to achieve spiritual freedom, they grossly underestimate the power of individual free will in those brave enough to escape and speak out.

Artists Peter and Karen Schless were seduced by Scientology's celebrity spirituality, and detoured from Hollywood careers to join its extremist group, the Sea Org. In leader David Miscavige's inner sanctum, they built their mental prison as they melded into its radicalized lifestyle where danger, captivity and abuse were normalized. After three escapes, Karen chose between two unbearable options.

Escaping Scientology Part I sweeps you into the lives of two young adults filled with hope and love as designer Karen and her award-winning musician-composer husband Peter overcome obstacles to succeed in the music and fashion industries together. Scientology re-focuses their goals toward the importance of clearing the planet and recruiting celebrities to build Scientology's social capital. Karen portrays the basic beliefs of Scientology that led to her radicalization into the Sea Org at the Celebrity Centre, a fortress where artists aspire to achieve greatness while attaining spiritual freedom through L. Ron Hubbard’s teachings. Karen shows how celebrities are lured into Scientology and develop a co-dependent relationship from which few break out.

Part II reveals Karen as a flawed and complex woman when she and Peter move to the secretive International Management headquarters, where they join 800 fanatical Sea Org members that made billion-year commitments to make this a Scientology world without war, criminality, or insanity. Karen finds the dystopian outpost and its global operations to be proof that Time magazine’s 1991 article, “The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power” captures the essence of Scientology’s mindset, that she describes as “war is everything and everything is war.” She is no passive victim as she attempts to stay in the driver’s seat and keep their marriage intact while fighting the pressures of the Int base culture that attempt to break them apart. Scientology goes under “Cruise Control” as Miscavige becomes obsessed with his biggest trophy, Tom Cruise, and stiffens his control and abusive punishment methods on the Int base staff. Karen rebels against regulations and spends time in Scientology’s prison camp. After two attempts to escape the Int base, she is trailed by security guards and coerced into returning. Failing to escape, she questions the evidence of her own senses, and makes a mind-twisting re-commitment to become the best version of a Sea Org member she can be. Karen carves out a world she can live within as she is promoted into the highest echelons of management, appointed by the Chairman of the Board RTC to Int Management Public Relations Officer and later to take charge of the image of Sea Org staff internationally from the Int Finance Office. While working on special projects under David and Shelley Miscavige, she travels to Scientology bases around the world where she sees human rights violations set in place by Hubbard’s policies that cause her to conclude Scientology is a for-profit business that builds billions of dollars of assets on the backs of Sea Org slave labor, while hiding behind the banner of the First Amendment, claiming benefits and protection as a non-profit religion.

The epilogue of Part III portrays the mind-wrenching process of physical escape, and psychological anguish as Karen plies herself out of Scientology’s grip and endures its cruel disconnection policy. She re-acclimates herself to life on the outside while, brick by brick, she disassembles the walls of the mental prison she had built, and survives with the help of her accomplice and the love and support of her family.

Karen's narrative memoir shows that Scientology's plan, authored by L. Ron Hubbard and David Miscavige, is filled with flaws: While the leaders impose their will on members who follow blindly and spend exorbitant amounts of money or dedicate their lives to achieve spiritual freedom, they grossly underestimate the power of individual free will in those brave enough to escape and speak out.

Another title change, it will now be: Over the Edge: A Pawn in the Scientology Money Machine

From https://kaymrowe.wordpress.com/2017/09/24/my-choices-my-good-my-bad-are-on-me/
"My autobiography, “Over the Edge: A Pawn in the Scientology Money Machine”, that has been nearly 2 years in the making, will be released in a week or two.
…
I’m hoping that my book and blog articles go viral. Why? Because a lot of people in this world need to wake up and take control of their lives if they are ever to be truly free and happy."
Back Cover:

San Diego State University Library Debuts New Science Fiction Room | San Diego State University

Donald Westbrook, who received a Ph.D. in religious studies from Claremont Graduate University in 2015, called the collection “a preeminent resource for scientology studies [which] continues to receive fuller academic attention as one of many American-born new religious movements.” His book about the Church of Scientology is due out next year from Oxford University Press.

My autobiography, “Over the Edge: A Pawn in the Scientology Money Machine”, that has been nearly 2 years in the making, will be released in a week or two.
…
I’m hoping that my book and blog articles go viral. Why? Because a lot of people in this world need to wake up and take control of their lives if they are ever to be truly free and happy."

In a billion years I never thought I'd get involved in a cult, let alone sign a billion year contract with one and stick with it for 37 years.

The most oft questions I have been asked are &quot;Why did you get involved in the first place?&quot; and &quot;What took you so long to finally get out?&quot;
I am confident that you will find the answers to both of these questions and many more in the pages within. This is not just my memoir, but a story that needs to be told of harsh abuse, medical neglect and voracious greed all under the banner of a religion which claims to be saving this planet and the universe. From my early days getting involved in Scientology in Santa Barbara to joining the elite Sea Organization and slaving for pennies a day, there are no stones left unturned. I was a pawn in the Church of Scientology's money making machine and this is my story.

I reside in Omaha, NE, surrounded by Wonderful friends. In addition to being a Writer, I am a Realtor and Wealth Advisor. My passion to help people enjoy a higher quality of life recently landed me a position as a Rep for a company that provides Mobile Dental Care for the elderly in Skilled Nursing Facilities.

A new academic book takes apart Scientology and pop culture, and the apologists hate it

By Tony Ortega, April 11, 2018

Quote:

We have to apologize to University of Alberta Professor Stephen A. Kent. He sent us a copy of his newest book ages ago, and we simply haven’t had time to do more than leaf through it.

It’s an academic tome, and its title is Scientology in Popular Culture: Influences and Struggles for Legitimacy, and it’s a collection of chapters written by various scholars, including Susan Raine and Hugh Urban.

Kent himself is one of the hardest-working scholars in the Scientology field, and he’s amassed a legendary collection of Scientology materials, some of which we got access to when we were researching our own book about Paulette Cooper, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely.

Raine is one of Kent’s former graduate students, and we really liked a 2014 paper she put out about Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s fiction and how it relates to Scientology.

Urban’s chapter in the new book looks for ways in which Scientology concepts can be traced back to Hubbard’s pulp fiction — an idea we’ve explored on our own in the past.

Kent himself wrote three chapters, which number a total of thirteen, including Raine’s lengthy introduction, and they cover everything from Scientology’s obsession with celebrities to Hubbard’s interest in music.

But we just haven’t had time to dive into the chapters much, and for that we feel pretty terrible. But we thought we should bring it up after the book got a roughing up by Italian academic Massimo Introvigne in the journal of the apologist “new religious movements” group CESNUR, based in Turin.

We sure have a treat for you today. On Thursday, after we posted excerpts from L. Ron Hubbard’s most notorious lecture, his 1968 lesson about Xenu/Xemu and a 75 million-year-old genocide, we heard from someone who served with Hubbard at the time, Hana Whitfield! We hope you remember what an amazing job she did describing life on the high seas with Hubbard in the 2015 HBO documentary, ‘Going Clear.’

Anyway, we can hardly believe it, but Hana was inspired by our story on Thursday and decided to share with us a chapter of a forthcoming book she’s been working on. She can’t tell us the title or the publication date of the book yet, but the chapter is all about her own experience with Incident Two and OT 3 and Hubbard, and we knew you’d want to see it.

A new ex-Scientologist memoir provides a journey through extortion in the rank-and-file

By Tony Ortega, April 28, 2018

Quote:

Books by ex-Scientologists keep arriving, and we received one this week that we didn’t even know was coming at all, from an ex-Scientologist we hadn’t spoken to before. So yes, forgive us if we were a little skeptical about whether we’d enjoy Chris Shugart’s Fractured Journey: A Personal Account of 30 Outrageous Years in the Church of Scientology.

But right away, we liked how Chris presented his book, and the humble way he positioned it. No, he wasn’t a celebrity in the church. He’d never been in the inner hardcore of the organization, the Sea Org. He didn’t have any stories like you would find in Marc Headley’s Blown for Good or Jefferson Hawkins’s Counterfeit Dreams with outrageous stories about David Miscavige’s treatment of people.

But on the other hand, what we often hear from the religious studies professors is that they want accounts not about the famous names in the church but from the rank and file, the average Joes and Janes who move up the “Bridge” of Scientology courses, go to church events, and keep the place going in their own way.

Shugart sure delivers that, and in a spare, well-written style that is self-conscious about being factual and non-judgmental. There’s simply no question, for example, that Shugart gave Scientology every chance to be a positive part of his life. Time and again, whether he was working in the Westwood Mission in the 1970s, or supplying printing needs to the church in Los Angeles in the 1980s, he would give the church the benefit of the doubt — and paid for it nearly every time.

This is not a book that spends much time considering L. Ron Hubbard’s “technology” and whether it might have some actual benefits. What you get instead is a steady, relentless look at how an average church member is prodded, poked, strong-armed, and simply ripped off for money, money, money.

A new ex-Scientologist memoir provides a journey through extortion in the rank-and-file

By Tony Ortega, April 28, 2018

Quote:

Books by ex-Scientologists keep arriving, and we received one this week that we didn’t even know was coming at all, from an ex-Scientologist we hadn’t spoken to before. So yes, forgive us if we were a little skeptical about whether we’d enjoy Chris Shugart’s Fractured Journey: A Personal Account of 30 Outrageous Years in the Church of Scientology.
…
Continued at https://tonyortega.org/2018/04/28/a...urney-through-extortion-in-the-rank-and-file/

Great to see! Now all we need is the ISBN (or ASIN) and the name of the publisher (or otherwise the means it was published). Neither have yet to show up on the book order site, and only Tony's article has May 9 as the publish date.

Great to see! Now all we need is the ISBN (or ASIN) and the name of the publisher (or otherwise the means it was published). Neither have yet to show up on the book order site, and only Tony's article has May 9 as the publish date.

FWIW, the May 9 date appears to be consistent with the following from the book website:

A new ex-Scientologist memoir provides a journey through extortion in the rank-and-file

By Tony Ortega, April 28, 2018

Quote:

Books by ex-Scientologists keep arriving, and we received one this week that we didn’t even know was coming at all, from an ex-Scientologist we hadn’t spoken to before. So yes, forgive us if we were a little skeptical about whether we’d enjoy Chris Shugart’s Fractured Journey: A Personal Account of 30 Outrageous Years in the Church of Scientology.

But right away, we liked how Chris presented his book, and the humble way he positioned it. No, he wasn’t a celebrity in the church. He’d never been in the inner hardcore of the organization, the Sea Org. He didn’t have any stories like you would find in Marc Headley’s Blown for Good or Jefferson Hawkins’s Counterfeit Dreams with outrageous stories about David Miscavige’s treatment of people.

But on the other hand, what we often hear from the religious studies professors is that they want accounts not about the famous names in the church but from the rank and file, the average Joes and Janes who move up the “Bridge” of Scientology courses, go to church events, and keep the place going in their own way.

Shugart sure delivers that, and in a spare, well-written style that is self-conscious about being factual and non-judgmental. There’s simply no question, for example, that Shugart gave Scientology every chance to be a positive part of his life. Time and again, whether he was working in the Westwood Mission in the 1970s, or supplying printing needs to the church in Los Angeles in the 1980s, he would give the church the benefit of the doubt — and paid for it nearly every time.

This is not a book that spends much time considering L. Ron Hubbard’s “technology” and whether it might have some actual benefits. What you get instead is a steady, relentless look at how an average church member is prodded, poked, strong-armed, and simply ripped off for money, money, money.

If you think you've seen it all before, take another look. Author Chris Shugart likes to think of himself as the Forrest Gump of Scientology. He was both witness and activist in some of Scientology’s most defining moments. As the Church grew, it was also gaining notoriety. This was the era of deprogrammers, counter-intelligence operations, and the Guardians Office FBI raids. For thirty years, Chris took part in shady financial deals, Church sanctioned covert activities, and just about every ludicrous exploit in which a Scientologist could possibly participate.

This is a first hand account of events as they happened. The book also includes many after-the-fact retrospectives, as Shugart takes occasional moments to look back on a bewildering journey that transformed him into a militant Scientologist. Former members will find some of the stories familiar, as they see similar parallels to their own experiences. Those less acquainted with Scientology will gain some insights into the Church organization and its policies, as well as L. Ron Hubbard's "applied religious philosophy" that his fanatical followers so zealously promote.

Fractured Journey is more than just an insider's tell-all of the strange world of Scientology. It's an intimate perspective into the mindset of the true believers, those fervent disciples of fanatical religious movements, extremist political organizations, and trendy social revolutions. For them, no end is greater, and therefore no means too severe.

* * * * * END INTRODUCTION * * * * *

Be sure to check out the Bonus Material, which includes (among other interesting material) "Bob Duggan Becomes a Scientologist."

If you think you've seen it all before, take another look. Author Chris Shugart likes to think of himself as the Forrest Gump of Scientology. He was both witness and activist in some of Scientology’s most defining moments. As the Church grew, it was also gaining notoriety. This was the era of deprogrammers, counter-intelligence operations, and the Guardians Office FBI raids. For thirty years, Chris took part in shady financial deals, Church sanctioned covert activities, and just about every ludicrous exploit in which a Scientologist could possibly participate.

This is a first hand account of events as they happened. The book also includes many after-the-fact retrospectives, as Shugart takes occasional moments to look back on a bewildering journey that transformed him into a militant Scientologist. Former members will find some of the stories familiar, as they see similar parallels to their own experiences. Those less acquainted with Scientology will gain some insights into the Church organization and its policies, as well as L. Ron Hubbard's &quot;applied religious philosophy&quot; that his fanatical followers so zealously promote.

Fractured Journey is more than just an insider's tell-all of the strange world of Scientology. It's an intimate perspective into the mindset of the true believers, those fervent disciples of fanatical religious movements, extremist political organizations, and trendy social revolutions. For them, no end is greater, and therefore no means too severe.

* * * * * END INTRODUCTION * * * * *

Be sure to check out the Bonus Material, which includes (among other interesting material) &quot;Bob Duggan Becomes a Scientologist.&quot;

Great to see! Now all we need is the ISBN (or ASIN) and the name of the publisher (or otherwise the means it was published). Neither have yet to show up on the book order site, and only Tony's article has May 9 as the publish date.

Like Headley and Hawkins, Pressley wants us to understand the Orwellian world of Int Base, and what it was like to live at the whims of a madman like Scientology leader David Miscavige. We think she did a bang-up job.

Like Headley and Hawkins, Pressley wants us to understand the Orwellian world of Int Base, and what it was like to live at the whims of a madman like Scientology leader David Miscavige. We think she did a bang-up job.

During the main event at HowdyCon in Chicago, we revealed there’s a new book coming soon which we’re pretty excited about.
The last time we were in Chicago, in 2015, we were there to promote our 2015 book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, our history of Paulette Cooper and how the Church of Scientology, which called her “Miss Lovely” in spy documents, tried to destroy her.
A few months ago, Paulette approached us with an idea — shouldn’t there be a book of the best of the Underground Bunker? And could she edit and publish such a thing?
We loved the idea, and so we went to work. We told her we had an idea for a title which we’d heard from Kay Rowe, who graciously gave us her blessing to use it — “Battlefield Scientology.”
Paulette has worked hard to gather a large number of pieces, we’ve edited them to update them where possible, and she’s written introductions for several thematic groupings of the stories. The result is a large collection of material that documents Scientology, past and present, and in one handy volume.
Here’s what Paulette says about it:

This book was written for people who think they know just about everything there is to know about Scientology, and to those who know nothing. The stories range from the early days of L. Ron Hubbard’s life to what is happening in his movement today. The chapters were chosen to appeal not only to former Scientologists, but also never-Scientologists, as well as to people who are just beginning to dip their toes in this subject. The 300 pages and 30 photos reflect not only what’s interesting, but also what’s important in understanding what has happened in this organization right down to what’s happening today. The paperback and e-book are scheduled for release in September.

A new ex-Scientologist memoir provides a journey through extortion in the rank-and-file

By Tony Ortega, April 28, 2018

Quote:

Books by ex-Scientologists keep arriving, and we received one this week that we didn’t even know was coming at all, from an ex-Scientologist we hadn’t spoken to before. So yes, forgive us if we were a little skeptical about whether we’d enjoy Chris Shugart’s Fractured Journey: A Personal Account of 30 Outrageous Years in the Church of Scientology.

But right away, we liked how Chris presented his book, and the humble way he positioned it. No, he wasn’t a celebrity in the church. He’d never been in the inner hardcore of the organization, the Sea Org. He didn’t have any stories like you would find in Marc Headley’s Blown for Good or Jefferson Hawkins’s Counterfeit Dreams with outrageous stories about David Miscavige’s treatment of people.

But on the other hand, what we often hear from the religious studies professors is that they want accounts not about the famous names in the church but from the rank and file, the average Joes and Janes who move up the “Bridge” of Scientology courses, go to church events, and keep the place going in their own way.

Shugart sure delivers that, and in a spare, well-written style that is self-conscious about being factual and non-judgmental. There’s simply no question, for example, that Shugart gave Scientology every chance to be a positive part of his life. Time and again, whether he was working in the Westwood Mission in the 1970s, or supplying printing needs to the church in Los Angeles in the 1980s, he would give the church the benefit of the doubt — and paid for it nearly every time.

This is not a book that spends much time considering L. Ron Hubbard’s “technology” and whether it might have some actual benefits. What you get instead is a steady, relentless look at how an average church member is prodded, poked, strong-armed, and simply ripped off for money, money, money.

Scientology scam: ‘It hadn’t occurred to me I was getting appalling advice from Church execs’

By Tony Ortega, June 30, 2018

Quote:

This week in our series of excerpts from books about Scientology, we have an excerpt from the newest addition to the pile, Chris Shugart’s Fractured Journey: A Personal Account of 30 Outrageous Years in the Church of Scientology. We specifically asked for this portion of the book, which practically drove us nuts when we read it. Couldn’t Chris see the disaster he was walking into? Ah, Scientologists. From the books chapter ten, “Rising Costs,” here’s Chris’s setup for what became a world of hurt.

Like Headley and Hawkins, Pressley wants us to understand the Orwellian world of Int Base, and what it was like to live at the whims of a madman like Scientology leader David Miscavige. We think she did a bang-up job.

What bugs the shit out of me are the permanent trustees of the SCIENOS.. Stephen and Sherman Lensky, Leon Misterek, Reed Slatkin. and ole FUCK BRAIN Lymon Spurlock... these pieces of shit need to getund what they really need... I want to know what happened to the 3/4's of a Billion (with a B) of Us Dollars.. "$US Samoleans$"

after ole eLrons got fudge packed and was found dead of a heart attack and had four sets of "SeaOrg Semen up in his Bugger." Gang Raped and Murdered I say!!!!

In a billion years I never thought I'd get involved in a cult, let alone sign a billion year contract with one and stick with it for 37 years.

The most oft questions I have been asked are &quot;Why did you get involved in the first place?&quot; and &quot;What took you so long to finally get out?&quot;
I am confident that you will find the answers to both of these questions and many more in the pages within. This is not just my memoir, but a story that needs to be told of harsh abuse, medical neglect and voracious greed all under the banner of a religion which claims to be saving this planet and the universe. From my early days getting involved in Scientology in Santa Barbara to joining the elite Sea Organization and slaving for pennies a day, there are no stones left unturned. I was a pawn in the Church of Scientology's money making machine and this is my story.

I reside in Omaha, NE, surrounded by Wonderful friends. In addition to being a Writer, I am a Realtor and Wealth Advisor. My passion to help people enjoy a higher quality of life recently landed me a position as a Rep for a company that provides Mobile Dental Care for the elderly in Skilled Nursing Facilities.

Scientology scam: ‘It hadn’t occurred to me I was getting appalling advice from Church execs’

By Tony Ortega, June 30, 2018

Quote:

This week in our series of excerpts from books about Scientology, we have an excerpt from the newest addition to the pile, Chris Shugart’s Fractured Journey: A Personal Account of 30 Outrageous Years in the Church of Scientology. We specifically asked for this portion of the book, which practically drove us nuts when we read it. Couldn’t Chris see the disaster he was walking into? Ah, Scientologists. From the books chapter ten, “Rising Costs,” here’s Chris’s setup for what became a world of hurt.

This is like so many people, actually all of us, we go on and on, and then one day we change our minds, and change our paths. It could be anything, not just being Scieno.
Sounds very interesting, in its portrait of a JOE BAG O DONUTS view... lessons for all on how not to get caught up in bullshit until its to late.

Commenting as J. Swift, Jeffrey Augustine says this:
"I too am writing a book and examine, among other things, certain obsessions of Hubbard's in the period 1949-1955. Dr. Kutzman refers to these obsessions...."

Commenting as J. Swift, Jeffrey Augustine says this:
"I too am writing a book and examine, among other things, certain obsessions of Hubbard's in the period 1949-1955. Dr. Kutzman refers to these obsessions...."

Raised a Christian, Jeffrey Augustine lost his faith at age 21 when he was in university studying to be a minister. After losing his faith he began to intensely study and practice Zen Buddhism. One day on a drive into the mountains, Augustine was hit with a bolt out of the blue. He had a staggering insight about the event that caused the Big Bang and its implications for human Consciousness. Augustine had what he describes as a "massive download from Infinity" wherein he saw everything, It took a long time to unfold this download and put it into book form. Along the way, Augustine became a Master Mason and a Knight Templar. A scientific lighting expert by profession, Augustine has worked on lasers, medical devices, UV-C water treatment, and even lighted the prototype of a space vehicle. The author lives in Los Angeles with his wife Karen de la Carriere, an extraordinary woman who was once a very high ranking member of the Church of Scientology. Karen is now an activist who speaks out against the abuses of the Church of Scientology. Jeffrey Augustine is a noted critic of the Church of Scientology who writes online under the pseudonym J. Swift. Augustine's unusually wide bandwidth in spirituality and technology has culminated in What Caused the Big Bang?